The US has been accused of withdrawing support from its NATO partner Albania, while Russia seeks to expand its influence in the region.

On May 14, Albanians will participate in local elections in a region that is seen as a potential source of conflict in the unstable Balkans region. Some experts and policymakers are concerned that the Biden administration has pulled back from engaging with this former communist country.
Albania is a respected member of NATO and has played a crucial role in maintaining stability within the organization. However, Russia is attempting to create divisions within NATO.
The U.S was joined by Albanian soldiers in their military operations.
According to Rebekah Koffler, a previous analyst for defense intelligence, the military has been present in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Although Albania's democratic reputation is in doubt, the tiny Balkan country, which is one of the poorest in Europe, has made noteworthy contributions to the United States.
Over the course of time, the objectives of foreign policy have evolved.
Albania was previously a Marxist country with an authoritarian government and hostile relations with the United States.
Nowadays, a country that was once involved in the Cold War is highly supportive of the United States.
Europe has several nations and a significant number of its people live outside their home country in the United States.
Albania is facing challenges in strengthening its democracy, yet it is receiving insufficient attention from President Biden and Western policymakers.
For a long time, Serbia and Kosovo have been enemies, but they are now getting closer to normalizing their relationship. The United States has historically taken the lead in resolving conflicts in the Balkans and establishing the current political and security structure in the region, according to a former Albanian ambassador to the U.S.
Agim Nesho, who represents the United Nations, informed Fox News Digital.
This was particularly true during the presidencies of Clinton and Bush 43.
The attention changed under the leadership of Obama and Trump, allowing special interest groups to promote risky new ventures supported by leaders like Prime Minister Rama and Serbian President Aleksander Vucic, including the Open Balkans plan. Rama and Vucic are both leaders of the Open Balkans initiative, which aims to promote easier movement of people and goods throughout the Balkans, appearing to be beneficial for the entire area.
The initiative is being opposed by numerous individuals in Albania and neighboring Balkan countries such as Montenegro, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are concerned that the initiative is a tactic by Serbia to replace the European regional market and could jeopardize the Balkan countries' aspiration to become a part of the EU.
According to Ambassador Nesho, the Open Balkans initiative could lead to the redefinition of various aspects such as borders, economic, political, and military interests in the Balkans. This initiative involves the involvement of non-Western actors like Turkey, China, and Russia, which could potentially result in renewed conflict in the region.
Although Albania is a small and overlooked country that faces challenges with law enforcement, organized crime, and corrupt establishments, a fair and well-attended election process without any anomalies could serve as a source of optimism for a region that is torn between a democratic West and an authoritarian East, which is primarily led by Russia.
The US has issued a warning to individuals with links to Russia who are attempting to incite a fabricated rebellion in a European nation.
According to Ambassador Nesho, if the foreign policy towards the Western Balkans remains apathetic and practical, it will result in losing the Balkans and the power to influence the area.
On Sunday, Albanians will have the opportunity to vote for mayors and local council members in 61 municipalities as the polls open.
In 2019, the opposition parties refused to participate in the local elections, resulting in a significant victory for the ruling Socialist Party.
The primary contenders for authority in the regional elections consist of the Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Democratic Party with a center-right stance, and the Together We Win coalition, which is a branch of the Democratic Party.
Despite holding competitive elections, Albania is frequently plagued by corruption and accusations of purchasing votes, causing concern among international election monitors.
Rama's Socialist Party is implicated in numerous instances of vote-buying and election manipulation.
A significant incident occurred where the head of the police department in a particular area directed all officers to prevent buses carrying opposition followers, which was a blatant act of voter suppression and harassment.
The OSCE plans to deploy approximately 300 temporary observers across the nation to oversee the voting process and vote counting at polling stations.
Accusations of electoral misconduct have been a recurring issue in Albania, and it has become a common occurrence during elections over time.
According to Freedom House, an organization that monitors democracy levels globally, there have been instances in past elections where voters claimed to have been coerced with the threat of losing their jobs or benefits based on their voting choices.
It is frequent for criminal groups to exert their power over the political landscape in Albania.
The growing shift towards the European Union has caused a historic Russian ally to snub Putin, as reported by international election observers from the United States.
The vote will be closely monitored by the EU.
We anticipate that Albania, being a NATO member and seeking to join the EU, will make every effort to ensure that the elections are carried out in compliance with global standards and principles.
The United States acknowledges that there is potential for enhancement.
In a recent interview, Yuri Kim, who serves as the Ambassador to Albania, stated.
Fox News Digital was directed by the State Department to a set of tweets originating from the United States.
The embassy's communication concerning the election.
The tweets urged the authorities to honor the demand for elections that are both free and fair.
The Fox News app can be accessed by clicking here. Koffler cautioned that if the Biden team does not take action in the Balkans, specifically Albania, soon, Putin and China may take advantage of the situation, as they have done in other regions like Syria and parts of Africa when Obama withdrew. Fox News Digital attempted to contact the Foreign Ministry of Albania for a response but did not receive a reply before the article was published.